Click to enlarge picture of "North Salem Horses".

The Town of North Salem is located in the northeastern corner of Westchester County, New York. North Salem borders Somers to the west, Lewisboro to the south, Putnam County to the north and Connecticut to the east. As of the 2010 census, North Salem had a population of approximately 5200 people and encompasses just over 23 square miles. It is noted for its open lands, lakes, reservoirs, and many horse farms.

Click to enlarge picture of "North Salem Horse Farm". North Salem, also known as "horse country" is unique in its beautiful rural landscape. The North Salem Bridle Trails Association maintains and develops the historic system of trails, which extends and connects more than one hundred linear miles of trails in the towns of North Salem, New York and Ridgefield, Connecticut.

North Salem borders Putnam County to the north and Connecticut to the east. North Salem is comprised of:

Hamlet of Croton Falls, in the northwest corner of North Salem
Hamlet of Grants Corner, in the southeast of North Salem
Hamlet of North Salem, in the western part of North Salem
Hamlet of Purdy's, south of Croton Falls in the western part of North Salem
Hamlet of Salem Center, that lies at the eastern end of the Titicus Reservoir
Village of Twin Lakes Village in the southern part of North Salem
Peach Lake Community

MTA Metro-North Train Stations
For an easy commute into Manhattan's Grand Central Station, North Salem has two MTA Metro-North train stations. One is located in Purdy', and the other in Croton Falls, just 47.7 miles to Grand Central Terminal. The train ride from Grand Central Station in NYC to either Purdy's Train Station or Croton Falls Train Station averages 74 to 85 minutes, depending on the time of day and arrival MTA station.

Town Government
The North Salem Town Board has five elected officials: the Supervisor (two-year term) and four Councilpersons (four-year terms). The terms of the Councilpersons are staggered so that every two years there is a local election for the Supervisor and two Councilpersons. Each council member has one vote on the Town Board. Council members introduce and vote on local laws and serve as liaisons to various Town departments and committees.

The Supervisor is the chief administrator of the Town government and is responsible for overseeing legislation. As chief financial officer, the Supervisor prepares the annual Town budget. As Chair of the Town Board, the Supervisor presides over all meetings. The Town Clerk is responsible for keeping records of the Town Board meetings and all contracts and agreements the Town makes. The Clerk processes numerous licenses and permits and also serves as the Records Management Officer, acts as the Registrar of Vital Statistics, and is in charge of running Local Elections. The Town Clerk is elected to a four-year term.

The North Salem Town Hall is located at 274 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560.
The North Salem Justice Court is located at 274 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560.
The North Salem Town Clerk is located at 266 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560.

About the Schools in North Salem
The North Salem Central School District is a model public school district, identified by its focus on the development of students of all abilities. Most of all, it will produce motivated and competent learners, capable of solving the intellectual, emotional, and ethical problems they encounter and of reaching their personal goals. All stakeholders, students, parents, faculty, staff, administration, Board of Education, community, will share responsibility for student development. In their respective roles, they will exceed expectations through a process of continually: setting challenging goals and plans, executing them with promptness and innovation, measuring and evaluating the results, recognizing performance, and improving. Learn more about each of the Schools in North Salem.

North Salem Bridle Trails Association
North Salem offers scenic country roads, peaceful living, and excellent schools. North Salem's natural and bucolic landscape, with over 100 miles of riding trails, is a picture of a town that has managed to hold back time. You will not find shopping centers, chain stores, or any indication of a business section in North Salem. The town's laws regarding development of land areas are strict; and it shows.

North Salem Today
Within minutes of driving into North Salem, beautiful vistas appear of rolling countryside, horse farms, gently landscaped properties, and rural scenes of horses grazing within their corrals. A popular outdoor activity in North Salem is horseback riding.

In addition to the rugged landscape and miles of hiking trails at Mountain Lakes Park, North Salem has two town parks, Joe Bohrdrum Park and Volunteers Park.

Joe Bohrdrum Town Park

• Two (2) tennis courts


• Regulation size soccer field


• Two (2) baseball fields


• Children's playground


• One (1) basketball courts


• Picnic Area



Volunteers Town Park

• Regulation size soccer field


• One (1) baseball field


• Children's playground


• One (1) basketball courts

Find many things to do including invigorating outdoor activities in North Salem, New York. Enjoy activities, attractions, and excellent restaurants in and around North Salem. Visit hiking trails in Mountain Lakes Park. Play Golf in North Salem at one of two 18 hole golf courses.

If you love birding and watching wildlife, visit the Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden where you can go on nature walks and listen to the sounds of birds at Hammond Museum in North Salem. Hammond Museum and Japanese Stroll Garden offer children's workshops, educational tours and stroll gardens; and is a special destination that children and adults can visit. Visit Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem where you can go boating, camping, cross-country skiing, fishing, hiking or just enjoy a walk on one of the many hiking trails in this beautiful North Salem park. End your day with a romantic picnic for two or a family picnic with the children.

For excellent fishing, Mountain Lakes Park in North Salem is also home to the Titicus Reservoir, offering some of the best fishing in northern Westchester. Fish species include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, brown trout, carp, and chain pickerel.

When it's time to eat, find a place to have dinner at one of several restaurants in North Salem or nearby areas offering excellent restaurants in northern Westchester County.

History of North Salem

Source: A History of the County of Westchester, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1 By Robert Bolton, Jr., Author of the "Guide to New Rochelle," and A Member of the N.Y. Historical Society., New York: Printed by Alexander S. Gould, 144 Nassau Street, 1848



History of North Salem - Printed 1848

"North Salem is situated twenty four miles north of the village of White Plains, distant fifty six miles from New York, and one hundred and twenty two from Albany, bounded north by Dutchess County, east by the state of Connecticut, south by South Salem, and west by Somers. Its extent east and west is about six miles, medial width four miles.

"Prior to the Revolution, the two towns of Upper and Lower Salem constituted the old township of Salem proper, within Cortlandt's manor. The present township was erected on the 7th of March, 1788 . . ."

Learn more about North Salem before, during, and after the American Revolution at History of North Salem.

History And Antiquities
The following covers "History and Antiquities", a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, and anecdotes about Westchester County and its towns. When reading the following, remember to keep in mind that this information has been written about two hundred years ago. Population statistics and events have not been revised to reflect current events and perspective. We think this adds to the historical flavor and interest of the writings, giving a different perspective on much of this information and written in an "older world" writing style.
"Historical Collections of the State of New York" , Published by S. Tuttle, 194 Chatham-Square,1841

North Salem
"North Salem is in the NE. corner of the county, 55 miles from New York, and 12 from Bedford. Pop. 1,161. North Salem, post village, has 3 churches, several mills and stores, and in its vicinity about 40 dwellings."